Playoffs start in flag football

The dress rehearsal also known as “regular season” has ended in the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s NFL Flag Football League. Playoff action — where it’s win or go home — is here and there’s plenty of excitement on the field.

The youngsters got started March 16 with three playoff games, none of which were close. The 10-12 division took the stage first as LaPensee Plumbing Falcons defeated Sandbar Cowboys 19-2. Levi Lengal passed for 46 yards and a touchdown pass, while also rushing for 39 yards and a touchdown. Henrik Brusso added 43 rushing yards and 25 receiving yards, including a touchdown reception. Tyler Yavalar added an extra point on offense and completed the scoring with an interception return for a touchdown.

Keegan Murphy accounted for the Cowboys score when he sacked the quarterback for a safety. Murphy finished with a game-high four flag pulls and a pair of sacks, while also leading the team with 88 all-purpose yards in the loss.

A second 10-12 division playoff game saw LPAC Cardinals roll past Southern Greens Bucs 19-0 behind a defense that produced three interceptions, including one each by Ethan Bertrand and Michael Latimer that they returned for touchdowns. Offensively, the Cardinals were led by Issac Henderson, who passed for 28 yards and a touchdown pass to Bertrand, and Tyler Pearson, who rushed for 57 yards and caught an extra-point pass.

Andrew Zink passed for 120 yards to lead the Bucs on offense, while Dylan Joseph led all players with seven flag pulls on defense. Corey Jaques added an interception and Brandon Mills sacked the quarterback once in the loss.

Beach Bistro Bears earned a first-round playoff win when they sautéed Mr. Bones BBQ Eagles 33-8 in the final game of the evening. Nick Mello had a big game for the Bears, rushing for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns on offense, while also intercepting a pass and taking it to the house for a defensive touchdown. Austin Ferrer also accounted for a pair of touchdowns with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Henry Bernet to go along with a short touchdown run. Ferrer and Bernet also contributed interceptions on defense in the victory.

JT Goode led the Eagles with 40 passing yards and a touchdown pass, while also rushing for 65 yards. Chris Johnson added a 15-yard touchdown reception to round out the Eagle offense. Elijah Clay-Chapman led the Eagle defense with five flag pulls, while Brandon Blanford added an interception. Joey Salinas pulled off a quarterback sack in the loss.

The adult division playoffs got started March 18 with three games. Walter & Associates Steelers edged Slim’s Place Jaguars 26-25 in the first game, while Sun Falcons slipped past Rotten Ralph’s Packers 33-29 in the second game. The last game saw Hurricane Hanks Patriots get gifted into the second round of the playoffs thanks to a no-show forfeit by Beach to Bay Construction Rams.

The playoff action culminates Saturday, March 26, with Super Bowl games and Pro Bowl games all day. The action starts at 10 a.m. with the 13-16 division Super Bowl.

Key Royale golf news

The men’s match-play handicap tournament is down to the final few players after Jim Helgesson defeated Bob Lang one-up in the A flight March 19. The match was tied through 16 holes, but Helgesson won the par-3 17th hole and then the match when both players converted for par on No. 18.

Terry Schaefer moved a match closer to the finals when he defeated Dick Mills 4-and-3 in the B flight match March 19. Schaefer will now take on Bob Soos, with the winner facing off against Helgesson for the championship.

The Key Royale Club golfers hooked up March 18 for a coed modified scramble. The team of Eunice Warda, Ron Robinson, Bud Dickenson and Jim Finn modified their way to a 38-under-par 90. The team of Rose Slomba, Lance Lindeman, Dennis Schavey and Tom Warda finished in second place at 92.

The men played an 18-hole, two-best-balls-of-foursome match March 16. The team of John Sagert, Bob Landgren, Ernie Hauser and Vince Fanton combined to card a 30-under-par 98 to nip the team of Bill Gallagher, Don Latorre, Dan Hayes and Peter Proxy by one stroke.

The women of the Key Royale Club played a nine-hole, low-handicap-in-flight golf match March 15. Kathy Willis took top honors in Flight A with an impressive 7-under-par 25, four shots ahead of second-place finisher Lynn Dailey.

Kris Landkammer and Ginny Nunn both carded 1-under-par 31 to finish in a tie for first place in Flight B.

Mary Pat Swamy carded a 3-under-par 29 to take first place in Flight D. Markie Ksaizek, Trish Kruger and Jan Jump tied for second at 2-under-par 30.

The women also played a team-low-net game that saw Kathy Willis, Sandy Tocco, Judy Sqier and Gloria La Torre take first place with a 7-under-par 121.

The team of Ron Robinson, Dennis Schavey, Bill Shuman and Lance Lindeman combined to card an 18-under-par 46 to win the nine-hole, two-best-balls-of-foursome match March 14. Earl Ritchie, Ed Havlik, Jim Sheppard and Mike Garnhart were two shots back in second place.

Horseshoe news

Three teams emerged from pool play during March 19 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. The team of Bob Mason and Norm Good drew the lucky bye into the finals and watched as Sam Samuels and Herb Puryear edged Gene Bobeldyk and Bob Brown 21-19 to advance to the finals. The finals saw Good-Mason open up a 12-0 lead, but Samuels-Puryear battled back to trail only 20-18 before losing 23-18.

Three teams also qualified for the playoffs during March 16 horseshoe action. Norm Good and Bruce Munro drew the bye into the finals and watched as Ron Pepka and Bob Mason rolled past Marvin Gangemi and Jay Disbrow 21-8. The finals saw Munro-Good defeat Pepka-Mason 23-13.

Play gets under way at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection. There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.